Attendees at Beth Ami Temple’s Annual Spring Concert on April 7 were thrilled again this year by consummate musicians Chris and Johnny Rice on the piano and cello. Pieces played ranged from Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue to the Horowitz arrangement of Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever. The concert was open to the public.
For more information about The Rice Brothers, please tap/click here.
The April 22 Annual Beth Ami Temple Spring Concert reached a new high in enjoyment this year. The Rice Brothers interchangeably played piano and cello and enthralled the audience with a range of pieces from Copland to Chopin.
Update: By popular demand, The Rice Brothers will be performing again at next year’s Spring Concert on April 7th, 2019.
Chris and Johnny Rice with Donna Horwitz
Chris Rice on cello and Johnny Rice on piano
Steve Hertzfeld
They sweet sound of violin music filled the air of the Beth Ami annual fundraiser. Lan Qui, Joy Pan and their two boys Allen and Ivan gave a superb performance. The 90 minute concert was filled with classic pieces such as Dvorak’s Sonata in G major to an excerpt from Schindler’s List performed beautifully by Allen. Joy played an amazing 1950’s violin chart topper, The Hot Canary and the show ended with a wonderful rendition of God Bless the USA. Which is one of Lan’s favorite pieces and definitely an audience favorite tonight.
Todd Herzog
This afternoon Beth Ami Temple’s fundraiser was a full house There was a lot of anticipation to hear the warm voice of Todd Herzog. His beautiful original melodies filled the room. The audience was privileged to hear two new songs, “The Light Within Me” and “All I Need”, soon to be on Todd’s upcoming CD, Something To Believe In, . His voice soared during his own rendition on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelyah” and the audience cheered to show their appreciation.
It’s always fun to be able to participate in a concert. Todd did not disappoint his audience and included them in his “Prayer for Healing” and “Sheheyanu”.
The synagogue is very grateful for Donna Horwitz and Blossom Osofsky to once again pull off a successful fund raiser. We were truly thrilled that they were able to bring the very popular and charismatic Todd Herzog to our synagogue.
Baruch Koritan sings Broadway melodies accompanied by Beverly Fletcher
This year’s Concert Fund Raiser was a wonderful, musical afternoon.
Everyone enjoyed it immensely. Baruch Koritan’s showmanship and song selection was appreciated by all. Oklahoma!, An Imposssible Dream and a selection from Les Miserables were particular highlights.
It was a pleasure to see the gifted Beverly Fletcher at the piano, who stepped in at the last minute for Baruch’s wife, Ruth, who was ill.
Rural Street Klezmer Band Beth Ami Fund Raiser
On April 26th, a full house of Beth Ami Temple members and visitors tapped, clapped and danced to the lively and varied music of the Rural Street Klezmer Band. “I was thrilled to see so many new faces and the obvious reaction to our friendly, small temple with a big heart. When so many people got up and danced, it really ended the evening on a high note,” stated Donna Horwitz, co-chairperson for the event.
Sallie Turman – Professor of Criminology at SCC
On Saturday, February 21, it was a full house at Beth Ami Temple when Sallie Terman, professor of Criminology at Scottsdale Community College, gave a talk on Jewish Gangsters, the Early Years. The speech was very entertaining. Sallie is a “pro” and it is understandable why her classes on Serial & Mass Murder are so popular that they are “standing room only”. The audience loved the speech and the evening concluded with a question and answer period.
The immigration wave of the Jews was from the 1890’s to the 1920’s. which followed the Irish and Italians. Jewish juveniles called the Corner Boys hung around street corners in lower New York and Brooklyn, acted tough and looking to be noticed by gangster groups and eventually were invited to join them. They joined the Italians, rise to leadership and made up half of the gangsters in the country during this period.
Arnold Rothstein was the original kingpin, and the brains, who together with Lucky Luciano, formed the Crime Syndicate and Murder, Inc. The Crime Syndicate operated as a major business and was the beginning of organized crime in the country. Prohibition was a major factor contributing to the growth of organized crime. Although it was illegal to transport liquor, it was not illegal to sell it.
Sallie sketched out the background and careers of a number of other well-known Jewish gangsters including Dutch Schultz; Myer Lansky and Bugs Siegel. Bugs Siegel got his name because he was so “flighty” growing up. However, no one called him Bugs in his presence. He was eliminated by the syndicate because he skimmed money from them while running the Flamingo Casino in the early days of Las Vegas.
Unlike many criminals of the period, most Jewish gangsters were close to their mothers and families, but kept their activities secret from them They did not want their children in the business and as such, had no successors.“ These Jewish boys murdered, stole and cheated on their wives, but they were always good to their ‘mommas’.” They were strong family men, moved into society, sent their children to universities and into business to live the American Dream. Although not formally religious, they fought against antisemitism, breaking-up American Fund rallies, and were supporters of Israel.
Sallie’s lecture was well worth the money. To quote Dutch Schultz: Wisdom is a good purchase, though we pay dear for it.
Donna Horwitz the Event Organizer and Sallie Terman Speaker
Lan Qui, Joy, his new bride, and Beverly Fletcher performed for April 21,2013 fundraiser. The music was wonderful. The sound of the violin took one away to another world.
As Lan and Joy played the music you could feel the audience was entranced. The sweet music filled the room.
Sunday’s Broadway Review was a major success. Beverly and Jason were amazing. We had over 160 attendees, and everybody had a wonderful time. Thanks to all those that worked so hard to bring this event off. It was a wonderful evening.
